Could the Emmy’s Bring an O’Quinn VS Emerson Showdown for LOST?
With the news that the LOST gang has submitted "The Man from Tallahassee" for the consideration of this year’s Emmy panel (A VERY good choice, I think) you have to wonder if we are going to see a repeat of the 2005 showdown which pitted Naveen Andrews against Terry O’Quinn in the Best Supporting Actor category. (William Shatner won, I think.)
It is seriously inconceivable to me that this episode will not bring a Best Supporting Actor nomination for both Terry O’Quinn as well as Michael Emerson. Both men were in their A-Game and the episode was, without a doubt, the most cleverly plotted, self fulfilling episode of the season. Not one of the many twists executed in "Tallahassee" was executed without the finely nuanced performance of one or both of these men.
We won’t know for sure until July 19th how well LOST will fare at this years Emmys, but let’s assume that I am right (for once), and we do wind up with an O’Quinn vs Emerson showdown in the Best Supporting Actor slot. Who do you think will/should win, and why?
As much as adore Micheal Emerson’s acting, I wished O’Quinn would win. The guy’s been in the biz for eternity & never was really in the spolight. Look at the other actors (Fox, Hooloway,Lilly,Naveen,etc….), they all have major movies lined up. Where’s he?….So I’m always down with underdogs. Plus, Locke is one of Lost’s most complex character & O’Quinn manages to make him if not likeable, certainly understandable as a tragic & at the same time admirable figure…in my eyes anyway….but Emerson’s a close 2nd!!!
Comment by JDSalinga — June 5, 2007 @ 1:11 pm
Josh Holloway did an outstanding job in that episode is well. That is why my vote went to “somebody else”.
Comment by Steeeeve — June 5, 2007 @ 1:35 pm
Was Josh Holloway even in TMFT? For him to be nominated I think they’d have to submit “The Brig”. While John Locke is my favorite character and Terry O’Quinn has played the role magnificently, I think Michael Emerson is the best actor on television today. I don’t understand why Emerson wouldn’t qualify for the Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Hasn’t Emerson had the most screen time of any male actor on LOST this past season?
Comment by gusteaux — June 5, 2007 @ 2:17 pm
Yeah, i think steeeve is thinking of “The Brig”. Halloway wasn’t a big player in TMFT.
Comment by Dr. Nope — June 5, 2007 @ 3:00 pm
Wow, great poll. I honestly can’t decide; it’s like asking “who’s better, Mummy or Daddy?” to a child. After some consideration, and as great of an actor as Emerson is–my cash is on Terry O’Quinn, he is absolutley outstanding. He has put so much into John Locke’s character–not only in TMFT–but right from day one. I can’t imagine anyone filling the role half as well.
Comment by The Pearl — June 5, 2007 @ 3:08 pm
Yeah… I voted for Terry too. Emerson is the fresher face and still has that ‘unknown’ quantity to his character, so it’s easy to see why he is winning. Terry should have won in season one though.
Comment by DocArzt — June 5, 2007 @ 4:21 pm
That is one tough call, but I have to agree with JDSalinga. O’Quinn should definitely win this one. Besides, Emerson won an Emmy in ‘01 for The Practice. It’s time for O’Quinn to be recognized.
I do love Emerson though. He is absolutely amazing! I love O’Quinn too and have thought this is his best role ever.
Still, my vote is for O’Quinn this time.
Comment by MagnoliaSouth — June 5, 2007 @ 4:48 pm
I think overall this has been emersons season, terry probably had se1 and this season hs mainly centred around the others so you’d have to go with emerson
Comment by nickk — June 5, 2007 @ 4:57 pm
darkufo mentioned that the episode submitted last year wasn’t great, could someone tell me what that episode was?
Comment by James — June 5, 2007 @ 5:12 pm
James - Dark didn’t say that, it was from the text of the LA Times. But the episode was “Man of Science, Man of Faith”
Comment by DocArzt — June 5, 2007 @ 6:03 pm
Thanks doc.
Comment by James — June 5, 2007 @ 7:08 pm
Terry O’Quinn is a fine actor. But let’s face it Michael Emerson has transcended the role of Benjamin Linus. I know because I took two film classes in college. I also took a really sweet elective studying the Twilight Zone, but that’s neither here nor there. Emerson’s range was amazing this year. He went from omnipotent supernatural being to scared animal backed into a corner in the span of 22 episodes. Yet, he managed to carry enough ambiguity to keep me confused as to what his motives are. Sometimes these awards are given to those who do not deserve them, other times given to actors whose resume earned it for them. In this case, it should be given to the finest actor on network televsion.
Comment by Higdon — June 5, 2007 @ 7:21 pm
Re: In this case, it should be given to the finest actor on network televsion.
I’m sure Kiefer Sutherland will pick up a few, Higdon. :p
Comment by The Pearl — June 5, 2007 @ 10:45 pm
I don’t really like Ben, not as in I don’t want him on the show, it’s more like I love to hate him. He’s one of the best “bad guy”s on television. Why? Because you are never sure if he really is “bad”. Is he really the real good guy on the island, and the Losties are unintentional antagonists? The mystery surrounding the character of Benjamin Linus is definitly a good one. I don’t think anyone else could make me think more than Emerson has. Plus I am getting really tired of Locke, he’s weak one moment, then strong the next, he thinks he is always doing good, even when he’s not. It’s becoming quite bland after three seasons.
Comment by Gewher — June 6, 2007 @ 5:09 am
Doc, ur a bastard! Making me choose between my two fav. actors on the show! But for me it was pretty easy, Emerson takes it, and heres why. O’Quinn is a wonderful actor, to me, it seems that i enjoy O’Quinn’s character Locke more then Emerson’s character Ben. BUT Emerson is the finer actor of the two, the way he say’s his lines are without challange. Locke is a more enjoyable character, but Emerson is a finer actor.
But i would rather O’Quinn win, even tho Emerson is the finer actor!
Comment by Jimyy — June 6, 2007 @ 6:11 am
Pearl: Kiefer Sutherland has to be the best actor on tv. How else could someone under 5 feet tall pretend to be a tough guy? That’s moxie.
Comment by Higdon — June 6, 2007 @ 10:59 am
Yes… I was thinking of The Brig. My B
Comment by steeeeve — June 6, 2007 @ 5:38 pm
Hey Higdon, Keifer competed in the rodeo circuit for quite a while, I don’t think he’s pretending.
Comment by DocArzt — June 7, 2007 @ 7:28 am
Doc,
That reminds me. I just heard that CMT will have on “Celebrity Bull Riding” this summer. I’m no CMT fan, but I’ve been to my share of rodeos. The thought of Vanilla Ice being gored by a bull appeals to me. Maybe he should ask himself, before getting on the bull, “What Would Keifer Do?”. I would.
Comment by Doc — June 7, 2007 @ 8:47 am
If TMFT is the episode submitted for both actors, it’s gotta go to Terry. Though overall I agree ME is probably more impressive this season, TOQ ripped it up in TMFT, really showing two completely different sides of the same character that are somehow also integrated–he’s one of the only actors on the show who really makes those flashbacks work. ME just didn’t have all that much to do in this particular episode…kinda like TOQ sat back and let Josh run away with The Brig, ME did the same for TOQ in TMFT. They both deserve Emmys, IMHO.
Comment by Stacey — June 7, 2007 @ 2:32 pm
Sorry Doc. That was meant for you, not by you. When are you going to post something that makes my brain hurt? All these side projects are making me sleepy.
Comment by Higdon — June 7, 2007 @ 5:59 pm